“You saidyoukilled someone.”
“He was still alive when I got there,” I said.
The next parts of the memory were blurry. Raze andWraith going to Sabrina, taking her out of the room. Pushing Lock off.
Slamming my boot into my stepdad’s head.
Again.
And again.
“Then we heard sirens,” I said. “My biological father must have been waiting. Watching. Shit, he probably called the police. Because as the sirens started, he appeared in the doorway and offered a deal.”
He wore the same long, dark wool peacoat. His hands were in the pockets, shoulders relaxed, uncaring of the body or the sirens.
I can make this go away, just say the word, Santos.
“I needed his help. And he knew it.” I rubbed my brow. “The rest is history. He covered up the murder, in exchange for our servitude. The contract was for five years. Five years doing whatever he asked, no questions. I think he was hoping by the end I’d have either wanted to join him, or he’d have something else to use against me, but it was nearing the end of our contract, and he hadn’t succeeded.”
“Then I happened,” I whispered.
The whisper in her voice pissed me off. I whipped my eyes off the floor, locking with hers.
“You didn’t force me into this. I forced you.”
Her lips pursed. “I don’t understand. Why? Why didn’t you just let me drown? Why did you comeback? You could have walked away?—”
Because I couldn’t let you go.
Istillcouldn’t let go.
“You would have done it again,” I said. “But if I took your contract, if I agreed to kill you, you would never do it yourself. And I could keep you.”For a timelingered stale in the morning air.
Gemma stood off the bed, walking to the other side of the room. She paused, staring at the door for a good minute, then quickly turned around and closed the distance, stopping at my feet.
“Why didn’t you just not tell him? It’s not like I would have told anyone.”
The day after I saved Gemma, we were scheduled to meet. He was smiling when we came in. I didn’t know how he knew, but he did.
For as long as you wear that mark, you’re mine.
“I could lie and say I didn’t have a choice, but…I did. I chose to keep you.” Her lips parted, eyes wide. “He extended our servitude until I finished our contract.”
And every day Gemma’s contract went unfinished was another she was stuck with me.
“So tell him it’s finished,” she said.
I laughed. “Kinda hard when you’re walking around breathing.”
Gemma’s expression froze mid-movement, breath stalling in her chest.
“Breathe,” I said.
She blinked and released the breath she was holding. “So he knows? He knows what I asked you?”
I had so many opportunities to get out of it. I could have lied about what the ink meant, could have crossed it off my chest and pushed Gemma out of my life.
But the ugly, fucked truth was as long as I was tied to my father, Gemma was tied to me.
